[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 74 (Wednesday, April 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20608-20610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-8110]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration Mission Statement


Mission Statement; Business Development Mission to Erbil, Iraq 
June, 2008 *

AGENCY: Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Mission Description: The United States Department of Commerce, 
International Trade Administration (ITA) is organizing a Business 
Development Mission to Erbil, Iraq, June 2008.* The business 
development mission will focus on establishing business meetings 
between U.S. companies and Iraqi companies, for both export and 
investment. The mission will be open to U.S. companies from all non-
petroleum sectors. Companies with interests in the housing, financial 
services, agri-business/food processing, healthcare, tourism, IT, 
transportation, or franchising sectors will be preferred. This mission 
will be led by a Senior Commerce Department official. ITA will provide 
participating U.S. companies an opportunity to meet with key officials 
from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), local chambers of 
commerce and other business groups, and various Iraqi companies. ITA 
also seeks to provide participating U.S. companies an opportunity to 
visit key commercial sites in Erbil. Security will be furnished by the 
U.S. Embassy Regional Reconstruction Team in Erbil, private hotel 
security, and the KRG.
    Commercial Setting: This mission will take place in the midst of an 
economic and investment boom occurring in the region. The Kurdistan 
region is an autonomous region within Iraq with special authorities 
enshrined in Iraq's 2005 constitution. It has many of its own laws and 
its own security force, which has enabled it to largely escape the 
violence seen in other parts of Iraq since 2004. Indeed, not a single 
coalition troop member has died in Iraqi Kurdistan since 2003.
    The economy of Iraqi Kurdistan has been growing from 8-25% a year 
over the past several years. Companies from neighboring countries, led 
by Turkey, currently dominate investment and trade in Iraqi Kurdistan, 
followed by companies from Gulf countries, Asia, and Europe. Private 
investment in the region was $7.6 billion in 2007. U.S. trade and 
investment in this region remains remarkably low in comparison, 
however, at less than 2% of the total. However, U.S. companies are 
beginning to take notice of the opportunities in Iraqi Kurdistan. A 
Coca-Cola bottling facility recently opened up near Erbil, while Ford 
and General Motors (Chevrolet) have active dealerships in the region. 
Furthermore, pro-American sentiment runs high in Iraqi Kurdistan, and 
both Iraqi Kurdish businesses and KRG officials are very supportive of 
U.S. business activity in the region. Recently passed legislation on 
investments provide exemption from income taxes for the first ten years 
of an investment, unhindered repatriation of project investment funds 
and accrued profits, 100 percent foreign ownership of land, provision 
of basic services (water, electricity, sewage, public road access and 
telecommunications) on a cost-free basis up to the boundary of a 
foreign investor's project site, and other attractive financial 
incentives.
    This mission builds on previous Commerce Department engagements 
with the Government of Iraq, the KRG, and with Iraq's private sector. 
In February 2008, Secretary Gutierrez traveled to Baghdad with 
representatives from the U.S. private sector and former ITA Under 
Secretary Lavin traveled to Erbil in February 2007 with a similar 
delegation. Additionally, Iraqi Kurdistan has hosted numerous business 
delegations from Italy, Korea, Japan, Germany and other advanced 
economies seeking to get a foothold in one of the world's newest, most 
dynamic markets.
    Mission Goals: The mission will facilitate business-to-business 
meetings between U.S. companies and their private sector counterparts 
in Iraq, as well as improve U.S. industries' understanding of the 
commercial opportunities in Iraq. The mission will also facilitate 
commercial policy dialogue with the KRG and Iraqi business groups. The 
mission aims to:
     Improve U.S. industries' understanding of the commercial 
opportunities in Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in particular.
     Facilitate business meetings between U.S. and Iraqi 
businesses, to expand U.S. exports to Iraq and U.S. investment in Iraq.
     Provide Iraqi Kurdish policymakers with U.S. industry 
feedback on the direction of commercial reforms.
     Introduce U.S. industry to the Kurdistan Region's business 
and government leaders.
    Mission Scenario: In Iraq, the International Trade Administration 
will:
     Organize roundtable events, briefings, networking events, 
and matchmaking meetings between the delegation and key U.S. Government 
officials, key officials of the KRG, local companies, and industry 
groups.
     Arrange for selected site visits to key commercial sites. 
(Subject to security conditions at the time.)

                      Proposed Mission Timetable *
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Day 1.............................   Arrive, late afternoon.
                                     Evening trade mission
                                     briefing from U.S. Government (USG)
                                     representatives.
Day 2.............................   Morning reception with
                                     Kurdistan Regional Government
                                     (KRG), representatives from various
                                     Ministries.
                                     Luncheon roundtable w/U.S.
                                     company reps already in Kurdistan.
                                     Afternoon trip to Erbil
                                     city center--convention center,
                                     citadel, etc.
                                     Evening dinner with banking/
                                     services sector reps.
Day 3.............................   Morning briefing from Erbil
                                     Chamber of Commerce, followed by
                                     networking and meeting time.
                                     Afternoon briefing from
                                     Iraqi Businessmen's Union-
                                     Kurdistan, followed by one-on-one
                                     meeting time.
Day 4.............................   Morning time for one-one-
                                     one meetings, free time for trade
                                     mission delegates.
                                     Leave, late afternoon.
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Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the Business Development 
Mission to Erbil, Iraq must complete and submit an application package 
for consideration by the Department of Commerce. All applicants will be 
evaluated on their ability to meet certain conditions and best satisfy 
the selection criteria as outlined below. This trade mission is 
designed for a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 10 qualified companies.
    After a company has been selected to participate on the mission, a 
payment to the Department of Commerce in the form of a participation 
fee is required. The participation fee will be $2,445 per company. 
Participating companies will be restricted to one representative. 
Additional representatives from a single company will be considered 
only as space permits. The fee for an additional representative will be 
$1,410. Expenses for travel, lodging, some meals, and incidentals will 
be the responsibility of each mission participant.

Conditions for Participation

     An applicant must submit a completed and signed mission

[[Page 20610]]

application and supplemental application materials, including adequate 
information on the company's: products and/or services, primary market 
objectives, and goals for participation. If we receive an incomplete 
application, we may either reject the application or take the lack of 
information into account when we evaluate the applications.
     Each applicant must also:

--Certify that any export of the products and services that it wishes 
to export through the mission would be in compliance with U.S. export 
controls and regulations;
--Certify that it has identified to the Department of Commerce for its 
evaluation any business pending before the Department of Commerce that 
may present the appearance of a conflict of interest;
--Certify that it has identified any pending litigation (including any 
administrative proceedings) to which it is a party that involves the 
Department of Commerce; and
--Sign and submit an agreement that it and its affiliates (1) have not 
and will not engage in the bribery of foreign officials in connection 
with company's/participant's involvement in this mission, and (2) 
maintain and enforce a policy that prohibits the bribery of foreign 
officials.

Selection Criteria for Participation

     Relevance of the company's business line to the mission 
description and goals;
     Company's primary business objectives for participating on 
this mission;
     Potential for business in the Iraqi market;
     Diversity of sectors represented, with preference given to 
companies in the housing, financial services, agri-business/food 
processing, healthcare, tourism, IT, transportation, or franchising 
sectors; [Note: This trade mission is open only to companies promoting 
non-petroleum industry sectors.]
     Capacity and intent to export goods and/or services from 
the United States to Iraq, or capacity and intent to invest in Iraq.

Additional factors, such as diversity of company size, type, location, 
demographics, and traditional under-representation in business, may 
also be considered during the review process.
    As noted in the criteria above, this mission is not open to 
companies promoting goods or services in the petroleum sector.
    Referrals from political organizations and any documents, including 
the application, containing references to partisan political activities 
(including political contributions) will be removed from an applicant's 
submission and not considered during the selection process.

Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications

    Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, 
including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Commerce 
Department trade mission calendar (http://www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html) and other Internet Web sites, press releases to general and 
trade media, direct mail, broadcast fax, notices by industry trade 
associations and other multiplier groups, and publicity at industry 
meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows. The Office of 
Business Liaison and the International Trade Administration will 
explore and welcome outreach assistance from other interested 
organizations, including other U.S. Government agencies. Applications 
for the Mission will be made available April 9, 2008 through May 8, 
2008. Applications can be completed on-line on the Iraq Investment and 
Reconstruction Task Force Web site at http://www.trade.gov/iraq or can 
be obtained by contacting the U.S. Department of Commerce Iraq 
Investment and Reconstruction Task Force at 202-482-5228, 
[email protected], or via the contact information below.
    The application deadline is May 8, 2008. Completed applications 
should be submitted to the Iraq Investment and Reconstruction Task 
Force. Applications received after May 8, 2008 will be considered only 
if space and scheduling constraints permit.

Disclaimer, Security, and Transportation

    Trade mission members participate in the trade mission and 
undertake related travel at their own risk and are advised to obtain 
insurance accordingly. Any question regarding insurance coverage must 
be resolved by the participant and its insurer of choice. The U.S. 
Government does not make any representations or guarantees as to the 
safety or security of participants. Companies should consult the State 
Department's travel warning for Iraq: http://travel.state.gov/trave/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_921.html.
    ITA will coordinate with the U.S. Embassy Regional Reconstruction 
Team in Erbil to arrange for transportation of the mission participants 
to and from the airport and hotel. Transportation for certain optional 
activities, including visits to commercial sites in Erbil, may be 
provided by the KRG. The hotel that will be the primary venue for the 
mission is a luxury hotel and does have strong security measures in 
place. Security will be furnished by the U.S. Embassy Regional 
Reconstruction Team in Erbil, private hotel security, and the KRG.
    The U.S. Government does not make any representations or guarantees 
as to the commercial success of businesses which participate in this 
trade mission.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adam Choppin, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Iraq Investment and Reconstruction Task Force, E-mail: 
[email protected], Telephone: 202-482-5228, Facsimile: 202-482-
0980.
    *Specific dates redacted. Please contact Adam Choppin 
([email protected] or (202) 482-5228) for further information.

Adam Choppin, U.S. Department of Commerce, Iraq Investment and 
Reconstruction Task Force, E-mail: [email protected], 
Telephone: 202-482-5228, Facsimile: 202-482-0980.
[FR Doc. E8-8110 Filed 4-15-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DA-P